Weekly Marketing Rundown - January 23, 2025

Weekly Marketing Rundown - May 8, 2026 Welcome to this week's edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! This week features significant updates from Meta, including AI connection usage rates and more. Additionally, there are changes to Google Ads, the latest developments regarding Turkey's social media restrictions, and other important news. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Meta AI Connectors for Ad Management Meta now allows advertisers to manage their ad campaigns using popular AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude. This new feature simplifies the process by removing the need for complex technical setups or developer credentials. For Mission Teams A few weeks ago there were widespread reports of marketers have their ad accounts disabled for integration AI tools through third party means. Meta appears to have made an official connection, but many still urge caution.  Missions team hoping to leverage AI tools for ads management would be wise to hold off or exclusively use the new built Meta AI Business Assistant for the time being https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-ai-connectors-claude/ Meta Daily Active Users Decline For the first time Meta reported a slight drop in the total number of people using its apps for the first time. This decrease happened mostly because of internet shutdowns and app restrictions in specific countries like Iran and Russia. For Mission Teams Even though Meta reported this slight drop in app usage, their add revenue is still growing and is likely simple related to global events. However, a drop in users highlights the risk of relying on single platforms for digital evangelism. Teams should diversify their outreach strategies to ensure they can still reach seekers when specific apps are blocked. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-ads-ai-connectors/ Vimeo Data Breach Exposes Personal Information A security breach at Vimeo recently exposed the personal data of over 100,000 users due to a vulnerability in their system. This leaked information included names and email addresses, though passwords and financial details were reportedly not compromised. For Mission Teams Missions teams leveraging Vimeo as part of their digital engagement strategies should verify if their accounts have been compromised or not. This also highlights the importance of practicing strong cybersecurity hygiene such as utilizing strong passwords and MFA. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/vimeo-data-breach-exposes-personal-information-of-119-000-people/ Google Analytics 4 Task Assistant Update Google Analytics has launched Task Assistant to provide a guided checklist for improving property setup and data collection. This feature, found in the left navigation menu, organizes tailored recommendations into categories like account connections and data troubleshooting. For Mission Teams This assistant could help simplify the setup and management of data collection in GA4. Using this tool helps teams identify and fix data gaps that could otherwise compromise the security or effectiveness of digital outreach. https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/16888318?hl=en ChatGPT Ads Expansion OpenAI has launched a self-service Ads Manager, significantly lowering the barrier for businesses to advertise within ChatGPT. The minimum spend has dropped from $250,000 to $50,000, and the platform is moving toward a cost-per-click (CPC) model. For Mission Teams While still out of the reach of missions teams ad budgets this significant price drop could be a good signal. If prices continue to fall ChatGPT ads could become a viable platform for teams to leverage in their digital engagement projects. Additionally, other AI platforms may follow suit.  https://www.searchenginejournal.com/openai-launches-self-serve-ads-manager-for-chatgpt/573971/ Turkey Social Media Restrictions- Update  Turkey has passed a law banning children under 15 from social media to increase online safety for minors. Platforms must now use strict age verification and give parents more control over what their children see. For Mission Teams  Thus far Turkiye’s response to social media is similar to many countries around the world- age restrictions. It is unclear what further restrictions may come. Teams leveraging digital engagement tools in Turkiye should keep apprised of local news and adjust their strategies accordingly.  https://apnews.com/article/turkey-social-media-children-restrictions-law-d88963a7446a12cf4963b73d455b5ef7 Google Search Integrates Reddit Quotes Google is updating its AI search summaries to include direct quotes and advice from Reddit and other social forums. This change aims to provide users with authentic, human-focused answers by highlighting real discussions and community expertise. For Mission Teams This update means seeker questions about faith may now surface organic community discussions alongside traditional search results. Teams could consider leveraging these platforms as these peer-to-peer conversations now have significantly higher visibility in digital outreach. https://www.theverge.com/tech/924993/google-ai-search-mode-overviews-update-reddit-links Rising Facebook Account Lockouts Facebook is experiencing a surge in account lockouts as automated AI systems mistakenly flag normal user behavior as suspicious activity. These aggressive security filters often leave users stuck in a difficult appeal process with very little human support available to fix the errors. Members of the Kavanah Team have also seem a similar surge in Meta Ad account restrictions as of late.  For Mission Teams Over-active AI policing is causing problems for many. Teams should exercise caution when making major changes to Meta Business Suite settings, and even logging in while traveling. If pages, accounts or systems are restricted successful recovery is rare. https://searchengineland.com/why-facebook-account-lockouts-are-rising-and-whats-driving-them-476546 Facebook Sees Massive Engagement Surge Even in the midst of lower reported app usage in Q1 Facebook is experiencing a sudden and dramatic increase in organic reach, with some brands seeing their views and clicks nearly double. Meta is achieving this by updating its algorithm to prioritize original content and better rewards for creators who post directly to the platform. For Mission Teams This shift could prove to be a strategic window for mission teams to reach significantly more seekers without increasing their paid advertising budget. Teams should experiment with posting authentic, original video content now to take advantage of this increased visibility before the platform's reach potentially stabilizes. https://open.substack.com/pub/milkkarten/p/something-is-happening-on-facebook Instagram Testing Text Swaps for Reels Instagram is testing a new feature called Swap that allows users to replace the text on someone else’s video. This tool could let people quickly remix popular content, although it may conflict with recent rules against unoriginal posts. For Mission Teams Teams could potentially use popular trending videos to share gospel messages by simply swapping in biblical text or seeker-focused questions. However, this strategy carries a risk because it would make it easier for bad actors to swap out texts on Gospel centered content to distort the messaging before sharing it again.  https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-tests-option-to-swap-out-text-in-someone-elses-reels/819153/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. Jon Ralls' new book–  Check out Jon Ralls' new book The Reluctant Whisper on Amazon, where he talks of evangelism from a sales pitch into an authentic act of presence—sharing faith through story, not scripts! Check it out here. Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: May 8, 2026

Weekly Marketing Rundown - April 24, 2026 Welcome to this week’s edition of Kavanah Media’s Weekly Marketing Rundown! We’re diving into the latest updates you need to know including the latest cybersecurity worries, a reminder that you can integrate Tiktok and Meta Analytics with GA4, the latest Canva update and more. Enjoying the Weekly Marketing Rundown? Support our work and keep it free for missions teams worldwide: https://www.kavanahmedia.com/donatetoKM Windows Infostealer Distributed via Fake VPN Sites and Gaming Mods Hackers are creating fake websites for popular tools like Proton VPN to trick people into downloading harmful software. Once installed, this virus steals private data and passwords directly from your computer. For Mission Teams Missions teams should only download files from trusted and verified sources. https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/threat-intel/2026/04/from-fake-proton-vpn-sites-to-gaming-mods-this-windows-infostealer-is-everywhere Unified Data Import for Google Analytics Google Analytics now allows users to bring in data from platforms like Meta and TikTok for free to see all marketing results in one place. This tool helps people understand how their total budget is performing without needing to check many different websites. For Mission Teams Consolidating data from multiple social media advertising platforms can help mission teams identify which channels are most effective for connecting with seekers. A unified view of performance data enables better stewardship of resources and helps ensure that engagement insights remain organized within a single trusted dashboard. However, some Kavanah Media team members have reported challenges with these integrations. Teams should test these tools carefully before full adoption and be aware that Google may modify or discontinue these features in the future. Have you implemented this approach? What has your experience been? https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/9164320?hl=en The Shift Toward Sovereign Messaging Government officials across parts of Europe are moving away from widely used apps like WhatsApp in favor of state-developed communication platforms. This shift reflects a growing desire for greater control over sensitive data, particularly in response to concerns about foreign surveillance and cyber threats. For Mission Teams This trend highlights the increasing risk of relying solely on commercial messaging platforms for sensitive outreach and internal communication, especially in restricted or high-surveillance regions. Government entities, corporations, and even mission agencies are beginning to prioritize platforms they can directly control or manage. For many mission teams, tools like Signal remain a viable option due to their strong security features. However, teams should carefully assess their risk tolerance and choose communication tools that align with their specific security needs and operating environments. https://www.politico.eu/article/european-civil-servants-new-messaging-services/ Canva AI 2.0 and the Future of Design Canva has updated its platform with a powerful AI assistant that creates complete designs from simple descriptions. This new system can manage complex tasks and use multiple creative tools at once to save time. For Mission Teams These updated automated design tools can help mission teams with limited resources efficiently create professional social media ads to better reach seekers. https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/16/canvas-ai-assistant-can-now-call-various-tools-to-make-designs-for-you/ Instagram Analytics Upgrade for Content Reach Instagram has added a new dashboard that ranks post results based on what actually helps more people see your content. The system compares every new post to your last five to show you exactly which ones are performing best. For Mission Teams These reach-focused metrics help teams leveraging organic campaigns to quickly identify which specific messages or formats are most effective at finding new seekers. By understanding what drives distribution, digital evangelists can stop guessing and focus their strategy on content that successfully starts new spiritual conversations. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/samanthabensimonyehle_instagram-now-has-the-most-insightful-performance-ugcPost-7450196573705342976-pZKl/ Mobile App Sharing with Precision Timestamps YouTube has added a new feature to its mobile app that lets users share a video starting at a specific second. While this new sharing tool is being added, YouTube is also removing its older Clips feature. For Mission Teams This update allows digital evangelists to share specific, impactful gospel moments from long videos directly with seekers. Teams must adjust their strategy to use these precise timestamps for engagement since the internal Clips tool is no longer available for highlighting key discipleship content. https://www.theverge.com/streaming/913611/youtube-mobile-app-share-at-timestamp-clips Global Expansion of Meta AI Business Assistant Meta is expanding its AI business assistant globally to help advertisers manage campaigns across multiple languages. The tool is designed to streamline troubleshooting, provide automated recommendations, and improve overall campaign efficiency. For Mission Teams While Meta Ads Manager can present challenges—particularly around reliability and support responsiveness—this global rollout may offer new opportunities for mission teams to optimize ad performance, resolve issues more quickly, and reach seekers more effectively in local languages. Automated recommendations can improve efficiency, but teams should carefully evaluate how AI-driven targeting and optimization may impact the digital security and privacy of those engaging with gospel content. https://www.facebook.com/business/news/meta-ai-business-assistant-expands-globally-with-more-languages Meta Value Rules for Targeted Audiences Meta is introducing Value Rules, a feature that allows advertisers to signal which audiences are most valuable to their goals. Instead of optimizing only for clicks or conversions, these rules help the system prioritize users who are more likely to take higher-value actions. For Mission Teams Mission teams can use Value Rules to guide the algorithm toward more meaningful engagement—such as prioritizing new contacts, highly engaged users, or specific audience segments. While this does not replace detailed targeting, it does offer a degree of strategic input that helps shape how campaigns are optimized. https://www.jonloomer.com/meta-value-rules-audiences/ Religious Affiliation Trends Among Immigrants Research indicates that immigrants to the United States tend to become less religiously affiliated over time, reflecting broader trends in the general population. While newcomers are often assumed to be more devout, data suggests that both religious identity and church attendance frequently decline after resettlement. For Mission Teams These trends suggest a potential window of opportunity for early engagement with first-generation immigrants as they adjust to a new cultural environment. Digital outreach efforts may be more effective when they address the immediate questions of identity, community, and belonging that often accompany relocation. Mission teams can use these insights to shape thoughtful, culturally aware campaigns. However, teams should also ensure that all outreach efforts comply with platform advertising policies and respect local sensitivities. https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/p/the-myth-of-the-devout-immigrant Threads Launches Live Chats for Real-Time Interaction Threads has introduced Live Chats to allow groups of up to 150 people to have public conversations during live events. This new feature includes interactive tools like real-time polls, countdowns, and media sharing to keep users engaged as events happen. For Mission Teams Live Chats provide a powerful way for digital evangelists to host real-time spiritual discussions or Q&A sessions with seekers during significant global events. Teams must monitor these public chats closely to manage security and ensure that participants can engage in a safe environment without exposing sensitive personal information. https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/22/threads-is-adding-live-chats-to-boost-real-time-engagement/ Foundations of Digital Engagement Strategy Course May 13-16, 2026 (Pre-EMDC Training) Chiang Mai, Thailand This course is for you. Digital permeates virtually every aspect of people's lives and it should be present in every stage of your mission and ministry strategy. Join Kavanah Media staff during the Pre-EMDC training week for a time of practical training in digital engagement. This course is designed for you to examine your end to end strategy and find ways that digital components can be added or improved whether you are just ready to begin or an experienced practitioner. Follow the link or contact us for more details. https://emdcon.org/ Stay Equipped for Digital Engagement  Looking for ways to use digital tools to grow evangelism and disciple-making? Check out our other resources: Kavanah Media Blog – Learn from our experiences serving hundreds of mission teams worldwide. We share practical lessons, real stories, and best practices to help your team avoid mistakes and grow in digital outreach. Subscribe here. YouVersion Reading Plan– Jon Ralls, CEO of Kavanah Media, just launched a powerful 4-day devotional on YouVersion called "Love Where You Are." Subscribe here Ad Resource Store- Stumped on what ads to run next? Check out Kavanah Media's Ad Resource Store for ideas, templates and more! Digital Strategies got you stumped? Reach out anytime—we’re ready to help. Contact Us Church GAP Analysis Tool- Uncover hidden risks before they become problems. Use our Free GAP Analysis Tool to evaluate your church or non-profit’s cybersecurity, compliance, and governance today.  Thanks for reading this edition of Kavanah Media's Weekly Marketing Rundown! For more up-to-date insights in digital marketing, make sure to follow us on Instagram @kavanah_media and stay connected through all our social media channels via the link below. https://linktr.ee/kavanah_media Authors: Cody A. and Cherry Messimer Article Published: April 24, 2026